Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. then grease a 9 X 5-inch loaf pan; set aside. Cut the cranberries in half and set aside in a small bowl. In a medium bowl, combine the milk, egg, butter, and orange peel and set aside.
Sift the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt into a large bowl. Add the halved cranberries, cheese and nuts. Toss with a fork to distribute. Add the milk mixture all at once and stir the flour mixture until just moistened. Turn into the prepared loaf pan and bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes in the preheated oven or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in the pan on a rack for 10 minutes, then remove from the pan. Cool to room temperature on the wire rack before slicing.